Bucklandiella is the largest and taxonomically most difficult segregate of a broadly conceived Racomitrium. It is a clearly defined and easily recognized taxon that, in contrast to the other three segregates of Racomitrium, comprises taxa with smooth laminal cells. There may be pseudopapillae, due to numerous longitudinal cuticular ridges that make the leaf surface rugged and appear papillose in transverse-section. The smooth laminal cells are coupled with relatively short, lanceolate or triangular peristome teeth, which are irregularly divided in the distal half into 2-3 or occasionally 4 branches, which however, are sometimes only irregularly perforated along the median line. In some cases the teeth remain undivided. Additionally, the following combination of characters is typical of this genus: narrowly lanceolate to ovate-triangular leaves; unbranched, percurrent costa; awns, if present, smooth, denticulate, or spinulose but never papillose; leaf margins 1-2(-4)-stratose in one to several cell rows; and seta always smooth, twisted to the right when dry.